Skipper Calls For Action

Olof Mellberg today voiced concerns over player safety in future Second City derbies, in the wake of Monday¡¦s pitch invasions.

The Villa skipper revealed he had feared for his own safety at St Andrews in September and conceded: ¡§The Birmingham players must have felt the same on Monday.¡¨

Mellberg commented: "It was much more scary in the away game. Playing at home you feel safer but away from home, with the atmosphere and so on, we were definitely concerned about our safety.

"The authorities have to think about doing something. It's too easy for fans to get on to the pitch and I've never known it before anywhere else in my career.

¡§At Birmingham it wasn't as if it happened just once. After the first goal it took us by surprise but the same thing happened after the second and third goals. It just kept repeating itself.¡¨

He continued: "There were many fans and they were touching us. The same fans were doing it and were then allowed to get back into the stands. It was a very hostile atmosphere.

"I didn't have the same feeling on Monday but I would imagine the Blues players and fans felt the same, so we must have better security.

"You never know what those fans might do. They looked harmless enough the other night but you never know if they are Villa fans or Birmingham fans, or whether they want to provoke a fight.

"It is important to prevent it but how is a tricky question. Maybe more police, or better stewarding but with the amount of fans there are Monday they wouldn't have stood a chance of stopping them from getting on to the pitch."